There's a fee to use the elevator and some cafes will reimburse said fee if a purchase is made, otherwise take the stairs. This is to reduce the amount of tourists keeping the single elevator busy all the time only to end up not spending money at any of the shops. I took the stairs and it was fine albeit dark and dusty. The apartments contain an eclectic mix of boutiques, galleries, cafes and art stores. There's no directory so you'll need to explore every level. Had a drink on the balcony of Saigon Oi and the view was pleasant.

Just a quick note, you would need to pay for the usage of lift. So if you don't want that, you are required to climb 4 floors up to get to this cafe. But they do have nice air-conditioning for you to relax. However, from my POV, the coffee they serve is just a normal cup of coffee. You might even get better ones at Starbucks. So don't get your hopes high. But the view from the balcony is really nice. Worth going for the balcony's view.

Excellent place and idea. The cafe s so adorable. Cute concept. Love ya🍶🍵🍪

Old and run-down building when viewed from the outside. Old and dusty too inside. There is some attempt made to keep things running. The building 🏢 is L shaped. A lift 🛗 runs from the middle, and 2 flights of staircases flank one side of the L. Every floor has several eateries or shops, and I guess you keep ascending til you find an eatery that suits your fancy. What's fascinating about this building 🏢 is how it took on a life of its own - from a falling apart entity to a block chock full of various cafes. And now everyone wants to come here for an IG shot. Didn't patronize any cafes here, so done 👍 in 10 minutes. But on a hungrier day, would most likely have joined the wait in line with Gen Zs posing with eclectic backdrops.

The Apartment Cafe is not just a place to enjoy a cup of coffee; it's an immersive journey through diverse aesthetics and cultural influences. The charming blend of creativity and caffeine makes it a popular destination it makes for a great day out

Eclectic mix of retail, cafe, co-working spaces and homes. The building itself is very old and need of maintenance, but has a certain charm to it. Tip: opt for the stairs so you can see what each level has to offer. Pick one cafe that offers an outdoor view and dining area, so you can people-watch the busy streets below. Can't wait to be back! Some cafes are open till past 10.30pm, so don't be afraid to still come for a drink after dinner even though the hours online are not updated.

The Cafe Apartment is the place that has many cafe and restaurant inside. There are total 9 floors and each floor have about 2-3 shops. Photos below is from one shop in 5th floor. They make nice fruit tea and view is nice.

It's a fantastic concept unfortunately not well maintained. There are about 3-4 shops per floor with 8 floors in total. But most of the shops are either closed or empty, so it felt a little like a ghost town. There's a lift you can take all the way up but you have to pay a fee. I was really hoping to like this one, but turned out rather disappointing to me. None of the cafés are extraordinary either.

It was my first time to visit Arabica % cafe. Actually, the taste of coffee(Spanish latte, Kyoto latte) was good. But the price is a bit expensive comparing to other high-end cafe. And inner space is quite small.

I paid a visit to Arabica Ho Chi Minh while I’m transiting from Osaka back to my home country. I visited the very famous Kyoto branch right before coming here, and I would say they taste a little different. Kyoto Latte from Kyoto that I enjoyed was really rich, smooth and strong, which impressed me as it is my first try with Arabica, while the one I ordered here has the same taste but I would comment that it is slightly dull overall. Still enjoyed it anyway ! Just a little bit expensive as aligned with what others think ! Great service from well english spoken staff and excellent environment as it is empty during my visit!

Kyoto Latte is the best cup of coffee I've ever tried and this place was something special for us. Well worth the walk up the stairs to the 4th floor every day to get a cup.

The building is obviously old and run-down which lends the place a certain vibe. The apartment is filled with shops, cafes and eateries on different floors. Most of the cafes and shops were closed when we went on a weekday at lunch time. Great facade for photos. I say give it a look, whether you find something or not, the going through the shops on each floor is a journey in itself :)

I came here on Sunday, although it was crowded, the service was still very good. The decoration is still bold in Arabica style according to branches around the world. The drinks are delicious compared to the price range. If possible, I just want % to change the single chair on the balcony because it's not very comfortable to sit on

Arabica is conveniently located on the 4th level and my personal favourite amongst everything else. Every corner of this place is aesthetically pleasing and makes a great photo spot. I got the Kyoto latte with oat and it tasted superb. A great balance of oat and coffee aroma.

Really cool place to look at. There is a beautiful place right infront of the apartment where you can sit and walk around. And there a number of place to select from to eat. I suggest you go around to the war museum, Ben Thanh market and the other tourist places close to this and then come near in the evening to catch a snack and enjoy the sunset.

Love the old buildings & somehow they have creatively turn it in multiple f&b outlets with hip co-working space, hipster inspired biz & creative agencies Place looks run down & typical of old buildings in Ho Ch Minh As what a lot of them has updated, apparently there is a fees to use the lift. The building has about 7 floors & to me part of the joy is going up every level searching out what is available. A fun activity to be doing for half a day for cafe hopping & escale from the heat outside too.

Best coffee I had in Ho Chi Minh City, possibly all of Vietnam. I had tried Arabica before at one of their locations in Japan, and this location didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend the Kyoto latte and Spanish latte, both have just a little bit of condensed milk added to make them subtly sweet but still let the coffee flavor shine. The Spanish latte has a bit more condensed milk than the Kyoto and is slightly sweeter. This location has a really nice interior too, with calming minimalist decoration, and lots of greenery. Lots of seating: couches and chairs inside, and a large balcony outside with more couches and bar-style seating. Plus they have a really nice bathroom with a fancy Japanese bidet system. It’s located in the “café apartment” building, with a lot of other cafes and restaurants. I believe you have to pay a small amount to use the elevator, or be prepared to climb up 3-4 floors of stairs.

Really cool concept for a business, have many different cafes and a few restaurants in one apartment block. You have to pay to use the elevator. I just took the stairs and it meant that I could see each business as I went up the different floors. Really nice views. Food here is little bit more expensive.

The shop design is very minimalist, shared tables and chairs - which might be good depending on the type of person you are 😁 the coffee price is on the higher end, from what I read most of their coffee is sourced from Hawaii which can explain the cost. Had the pour over 👍 and the Kyoto latte 👎 which was too much milk for my taste - more milk than coffee taste - overall great experience, good view and vibes - should go and visit and try

This is a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing coffee shop. The items are quite expensive. I paid VDN 120,000 for a matcha. The service was amazing. The baristas were really lovely and welcoming.

There are better cafes out there. Nice concept but the ambience is just so-so because you need to climb up the dark alley of narrow staircase. To take the lift there is a charge, which is ridiculous. The only good thing is, from the cafe, you get a good view of the city. The building is rather nondescript as walked past it without realising it was the popular cafe apartment. Not worth a second visit.

I did not use elevator because everyone said it have a charge. Many interesting cafe that you can choose but a little difficult to reach a top floor.😂

location, interesting. it is in famous cafe apartments. I remember it was 4floor and elevator was too late to take and extra pay for it. so I walked up all the way. it was little bit confused becuz there are no main sign of coffee shop near the steps. but went you enter the shop, you feel that they have nice air-conditioning system here. I never been this cooler place in Vietnam(maybe outside is too hot) I've been Arabica brunch several times in Seoul before. so I realized that even I ordered same coffee menu(Kyoto latte), the taste was different between two brunch. they should have same recipe, I was wondering that why the taste was different. and I found that here coffee was not rolling enough with coffee and milk so taste was not balanced.

A nice meeting place on the 4th floor with very friendly and attentive staff. All drinks are prepared with attention to detail and the interior invites you to take a spontaneous photo shoot. However, the prices are already in the upper third. Unfortunately you can't find anything here under 100K 😉

Situated in the heart of a bustling district slong Saigon’s Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Cafe Apartment, a nine-story building, provides a unique and distinctive experience with its diverse array of cafes. The vibrant atmosphere and varied cafe options cater to different tastes, making it a visit well worth your while. Notably, there's a 3,000 dong fee for the lift, but a budget-friendly and healthy alternative is to opt for the free staircase climb.

Saigon Oi level 5, nice view, polite crew, nice ambience.

They all look very nice but seemed quite pricey options when you actually got to them, and to use the lift 3,000 VND so we saved and used the stairs...😀

It you are looking for the coffee apartments don’t go in through the library. It looks like you should go up form there but the entrance is actually on the left. You’ll have to take some stairs or the elevator if you prefer. Arabica is on the 4th floor. The barista said one of their best sellers was the maple coffe so I decided to try it: it really wasn’t too bad! I recommend it. The place is clean an nice, they have AC inside and the view on the street is really cool as well!

It’s an interesting concept but a little underwhelming. Went there in the early noon ~11am but food were sold out. Lift seems to be breaking down too. Was stopping at mid floor several times and was jerking slightly. Didn’t dare to take the risk, came out of the lift and climbed the stairs instead.

Interesting concept. You have to pay around 3k to take their lift but there was slightly queue when I was there. If you already knew where to go, take the lift instead. But if you just want to have a look what’s inside, just skip it and just take photo from the outside. It’s actually not that interesting.

Located in the Cafe Apartments, one of the best cafes I’ve been to! When entering the building I note you had to pay to enter the elevators otherwise there are stairs which lead up to the cafe (believe it’s in the 4th level)? Had no expectations with the coffee but must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Ordered their signature iced Dark Latte and also their iced americano and enjoyed both! The inside of the cafe was very nice and clean and had an aesthetic feel to it. There was also seating outside which overlooked the area. Definitely recommend the place and will be back again!

Location: easy to find, but you have to climb stairs to 4 floors. If you don't want, you can pay fee to use the elevator. Space: small shop, strong aroma of coffee, view overlooking the walking street, however the space is too small it is a bit stuffy. Price: menu with just few selections, mainly coffee, no toppings, very high price for a cup of coffee or matcha latte, 120,000vnd for a 16oz cup of matcha latte, normal taste or because I couldn’t feel the difference compare with other coffee shops, after I drank, I felt dizzy and a bit uncomfortable. Introduced as French honeycomb cake, I don't see anything special, less taste. I came to experience, POV I won't come back 🥹

Great concept. Love trying the donuts at Dosh. Would be helpful to have a directory of the shops/eateries at the ground floor.

Cool place to go. The reviews on being dirty and un-appealing on the inside are just stupid, its an old apartment block converted into cafes serving food and drinks. Some of the most expensive speakeasies in the area are no different - grunge alley entrances. Definitely worth the visit. We had drinks in Saigon Oi (5th floor i think) and food in Downtown Steakhouse (3rd) , great in both. Lift you apparently pay for but just go to second floor and use it from there away from the guard.

Hyped venue but definitely must try poke meals @ Fish poki

there is fee for elevator but in my opinion if you are taking it go to top floor and use stair from there to downwards to find your kind of cafe the building has so many options from bakery to Indian restaurant and some famous coffee shop like %. The building itself offer the best view of Bitexco tower view. Iconic place to visit better to go in the evening.

Famous tourist site seeing location. Building is really old and there is a fee for using the lift. Suggest to use the stairs instead to discover what each floor has for you. In total there are 10 floors. Myself I tried level 9 for local coffee.

We visited this place 2 days in a roll with bad experience on our 2nd day; August 05 2023. One of the female staff around 27 years with glasses stared at all customers while walking in as she made sure they did not use a restroom before spending! 4 of us spent and 3 used a restroom then got confronted by her later that their company policy allows only customers that spend! We didn’t want to make it as a big deal as it would make the scene that would ruin the atmosphere; therefore, we decided to walk a way! If this is a store policy, please help make a sign on the door and in the store to avoid such confrontation from the staff! I hope the store manager would do something about this staff and ensure the policy is well enforced based on company policy not the staff! PS; I haven’t encountered any %Arabica store that has such a lame policy but this store at this location!

The atmosphere is very quaint with all the little shops. However the view at the balcony is just staring at adverts on billboards opposite which made it slightly odd. I think the coffee was nice although the rainbow cake we bought was not the best. Wouldn't say is anything special and there are other better coffee shops around for cheaper price with better views.

A fachada do prédio é bem diferente e legal! Tem os logos dos cafés e restaurantes que tem lá. A entrada do prédio porém é bem feia, parece um estacionamento e não tem sinalização nenhuma. Quando você entra se quiser subir de elevador precisa pagar 3000 dong e a menina que cobra é bem antipatica. Perguntei se ela sabia em qual andar ficava uma cafeteria específica e ela respondeu que não muito grosseiramente. As escadas quando você vai descendo são sujas e mal cuidadas. Porém, os cafés e lojas são lindinhos, vale a pena. Especialmente o Partea, 4 andar.

Really interesting building, a genius way to use the building. Had a great time climbing the stairs to the top floor, exploring the various cafes along the way. There are lots of little places to choose from, each unique. Saigon Oi was our place of choice, nice tea and coffe options with a great view and really relaxed atmosphere.

Great place to find a nice cafe to enjoy with a view. The entrance is nondescript, left of the bookstore, you’ll see a lot of scooters parked in the entrance. We took the stairs up to the top and peeked on every floor until we found a coffee shop we liked.

Came here to the Cafe Apartment following a friend recommendation and was delighted to see the way old building being preserved and turned into positive both commercial and heritage/touristic value. Was also suprised when observing many locals still live their life in the building. The Arabica cafe itself, is I guess no different than the others, had a hot americano and the ice cream which taste is rather bland and pricy. Don’t usually go to big brand coffee joint and this visit further confirms this.

Didn’t visited any cafes Many shops are closed or no longer exist Couldn’t use the lift to move around after paying 30k vnd Must walk the stairs View is normal Not recommended

We were at the fancy French tea place, nice and cozy interior, very unexpected and good tea. Relatively pricey for local conditions, but ok.

Located next to Fahasa Bookstore 🙂

Fun concept but we were there a bit too early (945am) and nothing seemed to be open. The 9 floors are very walkable if you want to save on the 3000 vnd lift fee and also makes it easy to explore the various shops. Recommend going no earlier than 11am.

An old apartment block in Saigon turn into cafés, coffee shops, beauty parlors, fashion boutiques, co-working spaces, and a great bookshop. Here nearly 30 shops have remodeled and redecorated what were once living units to adapt to new functionalities, many removing inside walls and extending onto outside balconies. The Café Apartment, 42 Nguyen Hue Street (Walking Street) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a must-see for your 2022 bucket list This 9-storey former apartment building retains its mid-20th-century form: viewed from outside, it might remind you of a chocolate box. In early days it housed government workers and military personnel, later the general public. All rooms face southwest, with balconies looking out on Walking Street, the city, and the Saigon river. A stair leads up to each floor, but there’s also elevator service for 3000 Vietnamese dong (VND) – don’t worry, this isn’t anywhere near as much as it sounds – which is reimbursed when paying the bill at any café. Normal opening hours for cafés are the same as for the building itself: 8AM to 10PM. Drinks and snacks are reasonably priced, but you couldn’t call them cheap. There’s visitor parking nearby at Lucky Plaza for 5,000 dong. 📍 Apartment Cafe 🚙 42 Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam// 42 Nguyen Hue Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam. 💰 - ⏰ 9.30am 10.30pm #vivoX80Series #apartmentcafe #hochiminhcity #vietnam #business #travel #holiday #getaway #weekendgetaway #travelkaki #malaysiantravelblogger #malaysiantravelblog

Very well decorated coffee shops. There’s a fee of 3,000 dong to use the elevator (pay to a guy who sits in front of the elevator). Nice view and a good place to chill, chat, and smoke.

I went to the poke place and the doughnut place ! Both were really really good !! Bit pricey (almost £10 for everything) but worth it

The space is very sweet and cosy, definitely felt the apartment vibe that the brand was going for. The view from the balcony is unmatched. The staff was very helpful and friendly despite the shop being packed. Its not the cheapest place to go to in Saigon but the quality 100% justifies the price for me. I fell in love with their coffee after trying it in Singapore and Bangkok branches. Could not have been happier that it’s now here!! They’ve just opened so do keep in mind that there is a queue. Overall I had a great experience. Will definitely come back for more Spanish lattes.

Definitely very good quality coffee, but not that price point in a bad venue, regardless the luxious brand name. I do not recommend this old building anyway. Expect a better location.

Kocak banget sih buat ke sini mau naik apartemen pakai lift harus bayar 3000 VND. Kalau lagi rame sih mendingan jalan aja naik tangga daripada antre. Pilihannya ada banyak banget tapi saya cuma mampir ke lantai 4, Partea, sama melihat toko tas tote bag yang lucu. Pasang akhir pekan ke sini sih rame banget sama anak muda dan turis.

A bit overrated and very hot

Cute house full of different restaurants, bars and cafes. I had traditional egg coffee in one place and a mojito in another. Highly recommended 👌

Like most Arabica outlets in the world, the ones in Vietnam combine below average overroasted and overextracted coffee with high prices, uncomfortable seating, eye-pleasing hospital-white design and good views. In Vietnam the % Arabica coffee quality predictably takes a dip even compared to China. They also use Oatside milk, a step down from Oatly. Tried iced oat latte and an Java Indonesia. The barista never tried good coffee in his life, but he tried to make it.

Unique old building to be visit, a cafe apartments contains several choices of cafe, restaurant, and other small shops.. the entrance wasn't clear shown for first visit, you can take elevator (which need fees per time) or using stairs to went up. Each floor has their own unique concert theme which makes you wanna drop by any random cafes~

Arabica is located on4th floor of Cafe Apartments. Last customers of the evening so it was not crowded. Had a good chance to look out from the balcony. Coffee was good (105k-110k) but more expensive than usual. Nice way to end the evening.

The coffee in here is quite diff than the others coff in HCM city i guess. We order 3 types coff and it feel like they used innormal milk for making coff. it great for our stomach but i havseen 1 visitor not really good in the toilet 😂😂😂 so be careful with your drink choice. I prefer americano with no milk for safety experience, i kind bitter though haha Ahh prepare about 3000 vnd / 1 person for the elevator to visit. The space is small for big crowd so u need to come earlier

the elevator is chargeable at 3.000 VND for 1 time go up or down, unless you need to use the stairs and it is not a good experience. coffee taste was just so so, nothing is special. the price is so expensive, up to doubled price from other coffee shop, up to 110.000 VND for small cup of coffee. place is also so small.